Automatic Patient Assignment

When you record a visit that isn't linked to a patient yet, Scope tries to figure out who the patient is and link the visit to them for you. This is called automatic patient assignment.

Where the patient name comes from

Scope identifies the patient only from the visit transcript. It listens for the patient's name in the conversation, for example when you greet them ("Hi Sarah") or address them directly ("So, Mr. Johnson...").

The transcript is the only source Scope uses. It does not look at your calendar, your EHR, the visit title, or anything else to guess the patient. If the patient's name is never said during the visit, Scope can't identify them.

Scope also ignores the clinician's name, so your own name won't be picked as the patient.

What happens after the transcript is ready

Once transcription finishes, Scope:

1. Looks for the patient's name in the transcript.
2. Searches your organization's existing patients for that name.
3. Links the visit to the matching patient, or creates a new patient if no match exists.

If Scope can't find a clear name, it doesn't guess. The visit is left without a patient, and you can pick one yourself.

Automatic assignment only runs when the visit doesn't already have a patient. If you selected a patient before or during the visit (or started the visit from a scheduled appointment), Scope keeps that patient.

Tips for accurate assignment

• Say the patient's full name near the start of the visit, for example "Good morning, Sarah Miller."
• If you only use a first name, Scope may not be able to tell similar patients apart.
• Unusual spellings can be transcribed differently than they appear in your records, so check the result.

Reviewing the assigned patient

An automatically assigned patient is shown as a suggestion until you confirm it. Open the patient selector on the visit to see it under Linked patient, marked From auto-assignment. From there you can:

• Click Keep to confirm the patient.
• Edit the name under Or edit the name and click Save to correct it.
• Search for and select a different patient.

Turning automatic assignment off

1. Click the Settings icon (gear) in the bottom left of the sidebar.
2. On the Personal tab, select Preferences.
3. Switch off Automatic patient assignment.

With it off, Scope won't assign patients from your transcripts, and you'll select the patient for each visit yourself.